[OSM-dev] osm2pgsql for 64-bit IDs

[Anthony]

>>> Imagine there's a way with anonymous points and you make a branch off of
>>> that. You'd have to convert that node to a "proper" node and split the
>>> linestring. We'd end up with a crippled system like "routable shapefiles"
>>> where you need an individual linestring for each bit of way between two
>>> intersections.
>>
>> Why would you split the linestring?
>
> Are you suggesting to have a linestring with anonymous coordinates, but some
> of them can be assigned IDs?

That's certainly a possibility, though it's not necessarily the best one.

> Because if you want a proper topology, the way branching off must somehow
> reference the "node" instead of just the coordinate, else you wouldn't know
> if there's a connection.

There are many ways to indicate connections.  They don't all involve
referencing nodes, though some do.

>> Do you care to elaborate on what the disadvantages would be?
>
> No, I'm not prepared to discuss them with you.